Life-boat-handling apparatus.



R. HUNTINGTON.

LIFE BOAT HANDLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SPT.23,1909. NMWNWNB Patented Nov. 2&19111.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

jW 1. Mi, W I

1 HUNTINGTON. LIFE BOAT HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.23, 1909.

Patented New. 28, WM.

41 flHEETS-SHEBT 2.

R. HUNTINGTON,

LIFE BOAT HANDLING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED $32123, 1909.

Patented NOV. NN, mu.

4 MEETS-MEET a.

R. HUNTINGTON. LIFE BOAT HANDLING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILBB SEYT. 23, 1909.

mmmm WW. mm.

.35 j mm 1 ROBERT HUNTINGTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Ell'lfiE-BOAT-HANDLTNG: APPARATUS.

neo ates.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 23, 1909.

Patented Nov. 28, llhilli. serial no. 519,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, llosnn'r HUNTINc'roN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, county of Sutl'olk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Life-Boat-Handling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is 'a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling life boats, and the main object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which be completely controlled by a single person within the boat.

Life boats are commonly supported upon suitable cradles on the deck of the vessel, and davits are provided when theboat is to be lowered or swung out over the side of the vessel. The boat is then lowered from the davits to the water, and the tackle cast oil. The operation of loweringthe boat is usually undertaken under circumstances at danger which tend to confuse and disconcert the members ofthe crew handling the boat. Tt is imperative therefore that the tackle should be of such a nature as to allow the least possibility of accident or failure to work in the lowering of the boat. When the operations of lowering the boat requires the concerted action of two or'more of the crew, as is usually the case, it not infrequently happens that one part of the apparatus is putinto operation before the other, one end of the boat is lowered faster or slower than the other, one portion of the tackle is cast oil before the other, or similar things take place, which, if they do not prove disastrous to those in or about to take the boat, it will so delay the launching of the boat as to se riously hinder the work of rescue. It is also essential that the boat shall be firmly held in position on the deck when not in use so that it shall not be shifted from position or swept away. It is further necessary that the apparatus shall be so arranged as to enable the boat to be hoisted from the water to the deck in an expeditious manner.

Among the various features which combine as hereinafter pointed out in the claims to make up the present invention, may be noted the following: a two-part cradle to receive and hold the boat, one part of the cradle being stationary and the other part toward the side oi" the vessel being pivoted to swing horizontally downward and release lowering tackle from the boat, any or all a may be deslred. Thus, one person standing tion a set of locking hands for the boa 9 is an end elevation, at a portion cl:

the boat, together'with means for operating the pivoted cradle section from a position within the boat; means such as straps 8X" tendmg from the deck over the boat for holding it firmly in its seat in the cradle, together with means for releasing the same from a position within the boat; davits pivoted to swing horizontally over the side of the vessel together with suitable tackle to control simultaneously both davits from a position within the boat as the clavits swing into position over the side of the vessel; suitable tackle for simultaneously lowering both ends of the boat from the davits, and means for controlling this tackle from a suit able position within the boat; the arrange ment of the apparatus so that a single person from a suitable position within the boat may control the releasing of the pivoted cradle section, the releasing of the means for holding the boatpin the cradle, the swinging outwardly of thedavits, the entire lowering of the boat, and the casting ofl' ot the within the boat itself in one position has under complete control all the agencies which, are necessary to launch the boat in the water tree ofthe vessel.

The invention will more fully appear from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

- The drawings represent a preferred term. .1 J

of apparatus embodying the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end ele-- vation of the apparatus showing the boat in. the cradle and in position on the deck of the vessel; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and in the same position, the central section of the parts be ing broken away to bring the Jfigure within the limits of the sheet; Fig. 3 is an end Gift? vation'of a portion of the apparatus showing the pivoted section of the cradle thrown down, and the boat swinging clear of the cradle; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the course of the rope by which the boat and davits are lowered; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the drum and connected parts within the boat for controlling the lowerii' tackle; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 00-00, F ig.5; Fig. 8 is an end el its means for releasing the straps holding the boat in the cradle.

The cradles in which the boat rests upon the deck of the vessel are, as usual, herein shown as two in number. Each comprises a fixed section 1 permanently secured to the deck and formed at the upper edge to embrace one side of the lower portion of the boat. The movable section 2 is formed to 19 embrace the opposite side of the lower portion of the boat, and is pivoted at 3 .to the fixed section. When the boat is to be launched, it is necessary to release the boat from the cradle and accordingly the pivotal sec tion 2 is swung down aboutthe pivot 3. This operation is performed from within the boat by suitable mechanism which may be of the construction illustrated= In this construction a bell crank lever is fulcrumed at 4 to the fixed cradle section. The short 'arm 5 of the bell crank lever is pivoted at 6 to a link 7 carrying at its'opposite end a roll '8 running on a suitable track 9 on the deck .of the vessel. A second link 10 is pivoted to the roll 8, and at its upper end at 11 to the pivoted cradle section 2. The long arm 12 of the bell crank lever extends upwardly past the rail of the boat and hapivoted thereto at its upper end an arm 13 extending within the boat to the position of the operator. It will thus be seen that when the arm 13 is pushed horizontally from within the boat that the bell crank lever will be rocked on its pivot 4, and by means of the intermediate connections the pivotal section 2 of the cradle will be thrown downwardly, j the parts then assuming the position shown in Fig. 3, and releasing the boat from the cradle. The rigidity with which the boat is secured in the cradle may be enhanced by the use of the locking bands 14 and 15, shown in Fig; 1, and separately in Fig. 8. These bands are made to conform to the exterior surfaces of the boat and engage at their upper ends the rail or other portion of the boat, and are herein shown as bent at their upper ends 16 for that purpose. The lower ends of the locking bands are bent to conform to the keel of the boatand both ends overlap the one the other, as shown at 17, 18 and project laterally into a slot 19 formed for their reception in the fixed portion of the cradle 1. 'These locking bands are preferably made fast to the boat, in any suitable manner as' by the lines 108 tied to the thwarts. Means are provided for securely holding the boat in its'seat upon the cradles, and

these means are shown as comprising two straps extending from the deck of the vessel over the top of the'boat. They may be formed of suitable flexible material such as wire rope, and both are shown as of the same construction. Each strap 21 has at one end a operating eye member 24 turnbuckle 22 for adjusting its length and is permanently fastened by an eye 23 to a coprojecting from the deck of the vessel. The opposite end of the strap 21 is formed to present a loop or eye 25 by incans of which the strap is secured at this end to the deck by a suitable device, such as the pelican hook 26. The end of the pelican hook 26 is embraced by a slide block 27 sliding on the bar 28. This slide block is connected by the link 29 to a crank arm 30, fast on the rod 4, a slot 31 in the link 29 and a pin 32 in the crank arm 30 making a connection. It will thus be seen that when the bell crank lever is operated to lower the pivoted section 2 of the cradle, the pelican hook will at the same time be released to release the straps 21. The bell crank levers at each cradle and the pelican hook adjacent thereto are simultaneously operated, and this is secured in the construction illustrated by rigidly'connecting both bell crank levers and both crank arms 30.

The davits 33 are of curved form, as shown, and mounted upon horizontal pivots 34 preferably to the fixed portion of the cradle 1, and each cradle is provided with a guide 35 between which and the cradle the davit swings. The davits are connected to gether at their upper ends by the cross-bar 36 to maintain the distance between them and aid in securing their simultaneous movement.

A drum 37 is mounted on hearing stands 38 in the boat, and provided with a central disk 39 having a radial notch 40 formed therein. A friction brake 41 operated by a lever 42 is pivotally mounted at 43 to the bearing stand38, and controls the unwinding of the drum 37. A spring 48 connected to the lever 42 serves to keep the friction brake set until positively released. I The drum can be wound up by means of a crank applied to the journal 44 or more slowly and with greater power to the journal 45 of the. pinion 46 engaging the internal gear 47 fast to the drum.

The ropes, pulleys and blocks are so arranged that the lowering of the davits and the lowering of the boat are both controlled by the operation of the drum. The arrangement is preferably such as illustrated in the drawings, wherein the rope is in one continuous length reaving through the various pulleys, and blocks, and caught at its central portion in the notched disk 39 of the drum. This arrangement is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 4, and it will also be apparent from the other figures. The arrangement, will, perhaps, be understood by tracing the rope from one end to the other. One free end 49 of the rope is secured in a suitable manner as to a cleat 50 to the davits 33. From thence it passes at 51 over a pulley 52 in the block 53 fast to the upper end weaves of the davit, thence at or. over the pulley in the block 56, thence at 57 over the pulley 58 in the block 53, thence at59 over the pulley 60 in the block 56, thence at 61 over the pulley 62 in the block 53, thence at 63 over the pulley 64 in the block 65 made fast winding drum where the middle portion v of the rope is caught in the notch 40 of the disk 39, thence at 76 over the guide pulley 77 in the block 78 made fast to the upper end of the davit, thence at 79 over the pulley 30 in the guide block 81 made fast to the upper end of the second davit, thence at 82 overthe pulley 33 in a block, made fast to the deck back of the second davit, thence at .84 over a pulley 85 in a block made fast to the second davit, thence at 86 over a pulley 87 in the same block as the pulley 83, thence at 88 over the pulley 89 in the block 90, made fast to the top of the second davit, thence at 91 over a pulley 92 in a block 93, thence at 941- over a pulley 95 in the block 90, thence at 96 over a pulley 97 in the block 93, thence at 98 over a pulley 95) in the block 90, thence at 100 to a cleat on the second davit.

The blocks 50 and 93 are made fast to the boat, but it is obvious that these being the sole connections from the tackle to the boat, provision must be made for releasing these blocks from the boat when the boat has been lowered to the water. Suitable means for this purpose are shown asthe hooks 101 pivoted at 102 respectively, to the thwarts or some other fixed portion or" the boat. These hooks are connected together by a rod 103, and provision is made for locking the rod against longitudinal movement, and thus securing the hooks in the position shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose the end of the rod is provided with a handle 104-, pivotally position abuts mounted thereon, which when in its upper against the thwart 105. lVhen the handle is turned downward the rod 103 may then be moved lengthwise, causing the hooks 101 to tip up and release the blocks therefrom.

The handle 10a for operating the means for releasing the tackle from the boat, the handle of the lever 4-2 for controlling the unwinding of the drum 37', the end of the arm 13 for operating the movable cradle section, and releasing the straps 21, are all placed in close proximity so that they can be readily reached and operated from one position in the boat, and can he each rocked in position in any suitable way. As shown, idle-.104: is l"i)ClI(l a the thwart the arm is locked to 106, r

The operation of the lowering of theboat will now be apparent. lhe person who is to control the lowering of the boat stands in the boat in the position where he can reach the handle 104 and the lever 42 and the end of the arm 13, and the boat is in the position shown in Figs. land 2. The first op" erationis to withdraw the pin 106, the next operation is to push on the arm 13, causing the pivotal section 2 of the cradle to swing downwardly and the pelican hooks 20 to swing upwardly, thus freeing the boat at once when it swings out into the position shown in Fig. 3. Next the handle of the lever 4-2 is seized and the friction brake released, allowing the drum to unwind, the unwinding of the drum feeds out the rope at both sides equally through the difiierent blocks, and allows the davits to swing on their pivots 34 over the side of the vessel, until they reach their extreme outward po-- sition, which may be limited in any suitable manner,'as for example, by the stays 107. When the davits have reached their outwardnioet position, the continued unwinding of the drum allows the rope to pay out through the pulleys and the boat to be low ered steadily and evenly at both ends until it reaches the water. W hen the boat reaches the water the further unwinding of the drum releases the central portion of the tackle from the notch 40in the disk 39 and the boat remains connected to the tackle only by the blocks 56 and 93. The handle 104 is then seized and turned downwardly when the blocks 56 and 93 will at once free themselves from the hooks 101, and the boat will float clear on the water.

The operation of hoisting the boat into position on the deck of a vessel it entirely.

performed from within the boat would require a great exertion of force to wind up the drum. It will, therefore, best be performed by the crew standing upon the deck of the vessel and hoisting upon the tackle at each clavit while a single person in the boat winds up the slack upon the drum. When the boat is to be hoisted onto the vessel, the

blocks 56 and 93 will first be connected to the boat by means of the hooks 101, and as soon as sutlici'ent slack develops in thetackle, the middle portion 75 of the rope will he placed in the notch 40 of the disk 39. At this time the davits will be in their outwardmost position. When the boat is hoisted well up, the tackle is further taken up to draw the davit-s back, thus swinging the boatback over the side of the vessel. into position above the cradle, ln hoisting the boat the tackle is operated by pulling on the rope extending at one end of the boat between the pulleys (it and 32 and at the other end of the boat between the pulleys 3? and 31?. This operation raises the host 1 allows slack at one ot the heat to i on. back over the pulleys -64, 67, 70 and 72 to the Windlass and at the other end of the boat over corresponding pulleys to the Windlass where it is taken up.

' After the boat has reached a predetermined position and it is then desired-to swing the davits back the tackle is operated by pulling on the rope at one end of the boat extending from the pulley 70 .to the pulley 72 and at the other end from the pulley 83 to the pulley 80. In this operation the davits will be swung back and the slack of the rope will run back over the pulleys 72 and 77 to the Windlass where it is taken up. The guide 35 allows the davits to swing back farther than illustrated in Fig. 1 so that the boat will hang vertically from the upper end of the davits above the cradle and can thus be lowered into place in the cradle. The locking bands 14:, 15 are put in position and then the pivoted portion 2 of the cradle is swung upwardly into position and then the 'straps 21 are passed over the boat and secured by the pelican hooks 26. The means for actuating the various devices are then made fast. The handle 104: stands upwardly; the pin 106 is in position connecting the arm 13 and the lever 42'. The dalvits are then swung into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the pin 109 inserted through the guide into the fixed portion of the cradle. The boat is thus in position when released to swing outwardly toward the side of the vessel. I

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. A life boat handling apparatus comprising davits mounted to swing over the side of the vessel, a cradle for supporting the boat on the deck of the vessel with the keel of the boat on the inboard side of its pointof suspension from the davits, tackle for lowering the boat and for swinging the davits, and means located within the boat for entirely controlling the said tackle to lower the boat and swing the davits.

2. A life boat handling apparatus comprising davits mounted to swing over the side of the vessel, a cradle for supporting the boat on the deck of the vessel, tackle for lowering the boat and for swinging the davits, means located within the boat for controlling the said tackle and means located within the boat for controlling the release of the boat from the cradle.

3. A life boat handling apparatus comprising davits mounted to swing over the side of the vessel, a cradle for supporting the boat on the deck of the vessel, tackle for lowering the boat and for swinging the davits, means located within the boat for entirely controlling the said tackle to lower the boat and swing the davits, and means located within the boat and in proximity to said last-mentioned means for simultaneously tasting ofi the tackle at its connections to the boat.

4. A life boat handling apparatus comprising davits mounted to swing over the side of the vessel, a cradle for supporting the boat on the deck of the vessel, tackle for lowering the boat and for swinging the davits, means within the boat for controlling the said tackle, means for securing the boat in its seat upon the cradle, and means located within the boat for controlling the release of the said securing means.

j 5. A life boat handling apparatus comprising davits mounted to swing over the side of the vessel, a cradle for supporting the boaton the deck of the vessel, tackle for lowering the boat and for swinging the davits, means for controlling the said tackle, means for releasing the boat from the cradle,

actuating elements for each of the said means located within the boat and in proximity whereby each of said means ma Y be controlled by one person in the boat rom one position.

' 6. A life boat handling apparatus comprising davitsmounted to swing over the side of the vessel, a ciadle for supporting the boat on the deck of the vessel, tackle for lowering the boat and for swinging the davits, means for controlling the said tackle, means for releasing the boat from the cradle, means, for casting off the tackle from the boat, actuating elements for each of the said means locatedwithin the boat and in proximity whereby each of said means may be controlled by one person in the boat from one position.

7. A lifeboat handling apparatus. comprising a pair of davits mounted to swing in vertical planes over the side of the vessel, a life boat, tackle extending from the life boat to the free ends of the davits and from the davits to the deck of the vessel, a Windlass within the boat around which the fall of the tackle passes for operating the tackle first to lower the davits and then to lower the boat.

8. A life boat handling apparatus comprising a cradle mounted upon the deck or" the vessel, the said cradle comprising a fixed section and a movable section, and means located within the boat for operating the movable section to release the boat.

9. A life boat handling apparatus comprising a cradle mounted upon the deck of the vessel, the said cradle comprising a fixed section and a movable section, means for securing the boat in its seat upon the cradle, means located within the boat controlling the operation of the n tion, and means located within to controlling the release of said securing means whereby the boat is freed 10. A life boat handlii'r prising a cradle mounted u the deck of the vessel, straps made fast to the deck and faces of said sections nection at the end extending over the boat when seated upon the cradle to the deck of the vessel, means for removably connecting the free ends of the stra s to the deck, and means located within t e boat for controlling the operation of said connecting means to release the straps.

11. A life boat handling apparatus comprising a cradle mounted'upon the deck of the vessel, the said cradle comprising a fixed section and a pivoted section, the upper conforming to .the shape of the boat, the said. fixed section forming a lateral recess adjacent the seat for the keel of the boat, a pair of locking bands made fast at their upper ends to the boat, said locking bands projecting laterally at their lower ends into the said recess.

12. A life boat handling apparatus c0mprising a pair of davits mounted to swing over the side of the vessel, a life boat, a Windlass within the boat, tackle at each end of the boat made fast to the davit, running over the-end of the davit, then over a conof the boat, then over the end of the davit again, then over a connec- Berries of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, h'y Washington, 0.

tion to the deck of the vessel, then" over a connection to the lower portion of the then over a connection to the deck ofvthe vessel, then to the end of the the Windlass in the boat-whereby the davit's mayfirst be swung overboard by lowering and thenthe boat lowered by the operation of the Windlass within the boat and whereby the boat may be raised and the davits swung back by" hauling upon the tackle.

A lifeboat handling apparatus comprismg a cradle mounted upon the deck of the said cradlecomprising a fixed the vesse section and a movable section-mounted to swing down and toward the outboard side of the vessel, and means located within the boat for controlling the operation of movablesection to release the boat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification,

two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT HUN TINGTQN Witnesses:

EMEY C. Honcns, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

davit, then to the davit, i

t5 1n the presence of 

